Mail-box signal.



H. P. DAVIS.

MAIL BOX SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED 313.23, 1909.

977,602. Patented Dec. 6, 1910.

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attozmu s UNITED STTES PATEN T QFFICE.

HARRY P. DAVIS, OF NEW MIDDLETOWN, OHIO.

MAIL-BOX SIGNAL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY citizen of the United States, residing at New Middletown, in the county of Mahoning, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Box Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to a mail box signal and more particularly to the class of signal flags for mail boxes adapted for use in rural districts.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a signal for mail boxes adapted to be automatically actuated upon the raising of the cover or top of the mail box to indicate to the occupants of an adjacent dwelling house that the mail agent or postman has deposited mail in the box.

Another object of the invention is the provision of flag signals for mail boxes which are simple in construction, durable, thoroughly efficient in operation and comparatively inexpensive in the manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings which disclose the preferred form of embodiment of the invention and as brought out in the claim hereunto appended. It is to be understood however, that minor or slight changes, variations and modifications may be made such as come properly within the scope of the claim hereunto appended without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a mail box with the signals connected thereto. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the mail box with its cover or top raised to effect the setting of one signal. Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of one of the signals detached.

Similar reference characters indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

In the drawings, the numeral 8 designates P. DAVIS, a

"generally the mail box or receptacle which may be of any well known or approved construction and material and which is provided with a lid or cover 9 connected to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1908.

Patented Dec. 6, 1910. Serial No. 479,437.

said box or receptacle by hinges 10 which permit the raising and lowering of the said cover or top. The said cover or top is provided with a marginal depending flange 11 to overhang a slight distance the sides and end walls of the box when the said cover or top is brought to a closed position thereon.

On one end of the mail box or receptacle 8 is provided a thickened portion or plate 16 near its mouth to which is pivoted as at 17 a curved staff or signal arm 18 having formed thereon a right angularly disposed flag or signal head 19 the latter adapted to project into the path of swinging movement of the cover or top 9 of the mail box or receptacle so that the signal will be moved to a vertical position automatically upon the raising of the cover or lid of the said box or receptacle. The signal head or flag 19 normally rests against the top or lid 9 when in a closed position and the staff 18 thereof is provided with a weight 20 which latter serves to hold the said signal head 19 in either a horizontal or a vertical position when swung to opposite sides of its axis of rotation.

To fix the vertical position of the staff 18 there is provided a stop pin 21 projecting from the end wall of the receptacle or box mtg the path of the movement of the said sta The signal 19 is adapted to be moved automatically upon the raising of the lid or cover 9 of the receptacle or box to a vertical position for the purpose of indicating to an occupant of a house adjacent the mail receptacle or box 8 that the mail agent or postman has deposited mail matter or the like within the mail receptacle or box for the said occupant or other person having use of the mail box or receptacle.

Should the mail agent or postman find that he has no mail matter to be deposited within the mail box or receptacle after closing the lid or cover 9 it is necessary for him to move the signal 19 in to contact with the closed cover or lid, so that the owner of the box will understand that there is no mail therein and no necessity of going to the box.

lVhat is claimed is In combination with a mail receptacle having a hinged cover, a signal arm pivoted intermediate its ends to one end of the receptacle and having formed thereon a counterweight which extends longitudinally of said arm on either side of said pivot, a signal counterweight cooperating to hold the signal 10 blade attached to said arm and extending in position when either raised or lowered.

into the path of movement of the cover, said l In testimony whereof, I afiix iny signasignal arni being bent so that the signal blade ture, in presence 0t two witnesses. and the counterweight lie upon the same H f y Y q V e \R P. DAl I side of the pivot, the disposition of the parts I b being such that the signal Wlll be ZIUtOlnfltl- \Vitnesses: cally raised upon slight raising of the cover ALBERT BARBER,

of the box, the Weight of the signal and the H. E. SCI-IAADE. 

